A corner block located at the juncture of an urban street and a treed river escarpment became the inspiration for a house in Ivanhoe for a newly retired couple. In line with the context dichotomy is the couple’s program – design for today as we are still active and able but also design for tomorrow when mobility may be a challenge. The concept for the house is a response to the site context. The front of the house is a solid earthen form protecting a garden sanctuary at the rear. The first floor mimics a treehouse within the envelope informed by the canopies of surrounding street trees. The service spaces reside in the center of the form enabling the habitable spaces to wrap the edge and engage with the garden. The client’s budget was modest for a project of this nature. Whilst nontraditional in form, we sought to apply traditional building practices and materials for cost-effectiveness. Our sustainability strategy was rigorous, the house achieved a 8-star rating.